Post-conviction DNA testing bill approved

A bill that would allow convicted criminals who maintain their innocence to access DNA evidence to help overturn their convictions is headed to the governor’s desk after being unanimously approved by the House yesterday.

The legislation, which passed the Senate last July, was drafted by the Boston Bar Association’s Task Force on Preventing Wrongful Convictions and was filed by Sen. Cynthia S. Creem, D-Newton; and Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford.

In order to become eligible for post-conviction access to DNA evidence, an individual serving a sentence must win a motion before a judge that shows the evidence could possibly result in an acquittal.

“When the task force began its work in 2008, the Commonwealth was one of just four states without a statutory right of post-conviction access to DNA evidence,” said BBA President Lisa C. Goodheart. “This bill represents a long-overdue step towards a stronger and fairer criminal justice system for the Commonwealth.”

The task force responsible for drafting the measure was appointed by former President Kathy B. Weinman of Collora and was co-chaired by Martin F. Murphy of Foley Hoag and David Meier of Todd & Weld.